Hi Guys,
Just thought I'd add my 2 cents worth here.
First, I think it was Brian that brought this "K3 whatever" to our
attention. Thanks. Looks like a very nice "K3 Whatever". AND, it's brought
up some interesting thoughts. I can really appreciate all the work that goes
into a project of that magnatude, ethics aside for the moment.
I feel that a person has the right to build or restore anything he wants
with HIS (or her) money, HIS time, HIS research, etc. He or she may be every
bit as proud as a fake or replica as he would be with the real thing. As
long as it does not infringe on anybody else there should be no problem.
However, since we don't live in a vacuum, the problem arises when inevitably
the car is sold. I do not think there is a problem like there could have
been just 20-30 years ago because of forums like this, plus more & easier
networking among owners/enthusiasts, and large gatherings such as
Silverstone 2001. Newcomers enter our MMM loop as much now as ever, just as
each one of us did at one time. There is always a bit of "let the buyer
beware" (sorry, I forget my high school literal Latin) but I haven't seen
many cases of deliberate rip-offs. There have only been the occasional
serial number changes which is a different sort of can o'worms and is
DELIBERATE deception.
For many, like me, we enjoy the actual restoration process as much as
driving the cars. Or maybe we just like the social aspect. Or building
faster engines. My own current project is a fake. It started out life as a
Jarvis F-type but when I bought it in 1993 all I got was the rusty frame.
Finding rare Jarvis bits on a car of which there were only 27 built to start
with is very difficult. So I'm building a car that looks very much like an
F2 2-steater. Great looking car - I'd love to have an original - either
Jarvis OR F2, but I'm enjoying the restoration process just as much. I just
dig doing it. Plus, I'm not destroying the car, I'm trying to unearth as
much data as I can about the original Jarvis, but all the bits were long
gone on my F0700 by the time I ended up with just the rusty old frame. Maybe
somebody else can redo the car in 2052 to Jarvis specs. Probably won't be
me. But having an "F whatever" to drive and enjoy is certainly better than
letting it rot into oblivian! I don't care if people call it a fake or
replica. I call it a fake. But tracking down the ENV gerabox, the F engine,
axles, radiator, etc, etc is just as fun finding bits for an original car.
And I can hardly wait to drive it.
So there's my take on this touchy subject! What's yours? tommm
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